Show GOODRICH CH ONE OF or THE CRITICS Rear Admiral Tells Senate Committee Armor Belt BeltIs BeltIs Is Too Low FAVORS THE GUN SEA DOG SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS IN HIS ANSWERS f C t t Washington March J Testimony Was adduced today before the senate committee on naval affairs which is Investigating the criticisms of or battle construction showing shOVing that the lo location location cation of the armor belt of American battleships was On the other hand band a letter from Secretary Metcalf was read declaring It to be the opinion opinIon opinIon ion of ot the board boa d of construction and andRear andRear andRear Rear Admirals Evans and Brownson that the armor belt lines of the bat Delaware and North Korth Dakota were right rI ht The secretary In his com corn communication took occasion to declare that American battleships were superior supt to tu those thore of any allY other navy The rho wit witnesses nesses riesses today were Lieutenant Com Corn Commander Commander mander Richard D White assistant Inspector of target practice and Rear Admirals George C Ramey Ramo and C F Goodrich Could Be Made Better Interest attached to Admiral Good richs testimony because after the pub puh publication of the article he paid fald aId in an interview that he had called attention years before to such mch defects as ns were alleged by He Hei i that he believed the American L to he be good Klod and that they could 7 be made better He was asked by b Mr Hale If he would subscribe to Reu statement that if our ships went vent Into action atlon they would be no bet better better better ter off than the Russian n s when they went Into battle with the Jap Japanese anese Oh no sir he replied his positive manner indicating that he though there could be no comparison It was as evident Ident that Admiral Goodrich was seeking peeking to precipitate a controversy He was asked about the German navy sticking to the gun The admiral said the gun was better than the and the better than the twelve inch nh I One of the Critics He was about to leave the lie stand when Tillman Tiliman called attention to the tact fact that Commander Sims a afew few ew days ago gave the name pf pt f Ad Admiral Adt Admiral miral Goodrich as one of the men who t would corroborate him in the declara declaration declaration tion that the he department would not accept officers criticisms The ad admiral admiral admiral miral looked too ked annoyed Have you made reports to the tile de department department criticising any matter of ot construction asked Mr Ir Tillman Tiliman I have replied the admiral and Ind answering other questions said he had hati criticised the location of ot the armor belt beltT elt T What do you think about it asked Mr r Tillman Tiliman I think Just as Admiral Ramey Rame does J 1 have adopted his expression said the witness Armor Belt Too Low Presse Pressed for or more definite replies the witness said he be thought the armor belt too low tow He thought the water line should approximately divide the ar armor armor mor belt with half above and half be below below below low the water line It was suggested by b Chairman Hale that a chance would have to be taken as to the tIle condition of ot the sea at the time the tile ship went into action The whole naval life Mr Senator JS 1 Is a chance the witness remarked F Mr Ir Tillman Tiliman returned to the charge j that officers had been discouraged from making suggestions or criticisms and demanded Admiral experience experience experience ence I have made several suggestions which have hae not borne fruit Do yoa yoi yo want a specific instance I want something tangible replied Mr Tillman Was Modest Admiral Goodrich said that in 1902 1912 he be had recommended abolition of f the military mill tar masts with their fighting tops He Re said these masts were heavy ana alia an lie he knew kne of or no Instance where they were cere of value The ships now being behig belli designed the admiral said do not have these fighting tops Then Than this recommendation did lid not flOt fall on barren ground said Mr fr Till J man nan manC nanI manI C I can not flatter myself that my letter had anything to do with the de do cislon elsion to do away with this feature said the admiral At least you ou can say I told you so 80 persisted Mr Tillman Tiliman It Like the chairman Ive a New Ne Eng land Janel conscience replied the th admiral I can not take the credit The hearing will be resumed row rov ro at a 1030 B s m |